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HANLON ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR MONMOUTH COUNTY REPUBLICAN CHAIR

Republican State Committeewoman would be first female Republican Chair in Monmouth County History

OCEAN TWP.- Monmouth Republican State Committeewoman and Ocean Township Municipal Chair Christine Hanlon today formally announced her candidacy for Monmouth County Republican Chair. Hanlon, an attorney, has assisted Chairman Joe Oxley with the administration of the County Republican Party in recent years. She served as County Coordinator for the McCain-Palin campaign in 2008 and the Christie-Guadagno campaign in 2009. If elected, Hanlon will be the first female Republican Chair in Monmouth County history.

 

“Through my work on recent county-wide campaigns, I have become intimately familiar with and fully engaged in the inner workings and administration of our county Republican organization,” said Hanlon, who has the backing of most of the party leadership in the County.” I have worked hard to develop a strong grassroots volunteer network throughout the county, to increase communication from the organization, and to implement the use of technology and social media to advance voter outreach.”

 

“Monmouth Republicans will have a clear choice. We can move backward, or we can move forward. While we must honor our past, we must continue to move forward without the weight of past issues that can distract us from our mission,” concluded Hanlon.

 

Posted: May 21st, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Monmouth County Republican Committee, Monmouth GOP, Press Release | Tags: , , | 34 Comments »

Senator Joe Kyrillos’ Response to Senator Bob Menendez’s Campaign Kick-off

“The voters of New Jersey know the truth behind Sen. Menendez’s record…” 


Middletown, May 21…Senator Joe Kyrillos released the following statement today regarding Senator Bob Menendez’s campaign kickoff in Union City. Mr. Menendez is seeking another term in the United States Senate.

“The voters of New Jersey know the truth about Sen. Menendez’s record,” said Senator Kyrillos. “Since Mr. Menendez has been in office, our national debt has almost doubled and our national deficit has nearly quadrupled. Our unemployment rate continues to hover above 8 percent—that’s 20 million unemployed or underemployed people across the country. New Jerseyans see what Senator Menendez is doing is not working- and we need a change. I have worked with Governor Christie to turn around a state that was on the brink of bankruptcy. We’ve balanced our budgets, created jobs, and strengthened the economy without raising taxes. We need reforms like that in Washington, not more of the same from Senator Bob Menendez.”


 

Posted: May 21st, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2012 U.S. Senate Race, Bob Menendez, Joe Kyrillos, Press Release | Tags: , , | 8 Comments »

LAROCCA ANNOUNCES DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP TEAM

LaRocca Slate Shows Wide Support;Will to Win

Frank LaRocca today announced a complete slate to lead the Monmouth County Democratic Party, reflecting the diversity of the county and a will to win on the part of local leaders.

“I’m honored to have the support of such a broad-based coalition and those who know what it takes to win elections in Monmouth County,” LaRocca said. “This is an outstanding team.”

As the Marlboro Democratic Party Chairman, LaRocca has won 8 out of 9 elections, making Marlboro a model for how to build a Democratic Party organization from the ground floor. When he took over, there was an all Republican Council and a Republican Mayor. Now, as a second term councilman in Marlboro, he is providing innovative, effective leadership in to his community.

The following is the LaRocca Leadership Team:

REBECCA AARONSON

Vice-Chair

Manalapan

 

In addition to serving as Mayor and Committeewoman in Manalapan, Aaronson was Chairman Victor Scudiery long-time vice-chair of the Monmouth County Democrats.

Rebecca volunteers as a Spanish interpreter at Parker Family Health Center in Red Bank. She has been honored by the Latino American Association of Monmouth County for her public service. She’s a graduate of Brookdale College. She and her husband Richard have raised two sons.

In 2005, Aaronson ran a strong race for Monmouth County Freeholder, nearly toppling an entrenched incumbent.

GERALD TARANTOLO

Corresponding Secretary

Eatontown

 

 

Mayor Tarantolo is currently serving his 14th year as Mayor of Eatontown and was last re-elected in November 2010 for a fourth four-year term. He also served on the Eatontown Council for 14 years and as a member of the community’s Board of Education.

Mayor Tarantolo was actively involved in the Save Fort Monmouth Committee, served as co-chairman of the Fort Monmouth Reuse Committee, the Governor’s Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization and Planning Authority and now on the Governor’s Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Authority (FMERA).

He is the 2007 recipient of the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce Spinnaker Award for Public Service and the 2010 SCAN Humanitarian Award.  

MICHAEL MANGAN

Recording Secretary

Manasquan

 

Councilman Mangan is serving his second term where he’s been a leader on the community’s Environmental Commission and Tourism Commission. A business executive, Michael is a graduate of George Washington University. He’s served as executive director of the Monmouth County Democrats under Chairman Scudiery.

VINCENT SOLOMENO

Sergeant at Arms

Hazlet

 

Vincent Solomeno has been fighting for Monmouth County Democrats since
he was fourteen.  In 2000, The Asbury Park Press called him a
“political prodigy” when he beat the odds and elected two Democrats to
the Union Beach Borough Council.  Since then, he has managed winning
races in Hazlet Township and helped elect Democrats across
Monmouth
County.

Vincent received his B.S. in Political Science from the University of
Scranton.  As a Harry S. Truman Scholar, he worked in the
Washington,
D.C. office of Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.  The recipient of a
2007 J. William Fulbright Fellowship to the Netherlands, he earned his
M.A. in European Studies from the University of Amsterdam for his
study of Islamic radicalization.  He is a member of American Legion
Post No. 23, a former member of the Hazlet Township Planning Board,
past President of the Hazlet Democratic Club, and he presently serves
as President of the Bayshore Democratic Club.

 

 

SHARON LEE
Treasurer

Red Bank

Councilwoman Sharon Lee is a life-long resident of Monmouth County who has dedicated her public service to quality of life issues. In Red Bank, she chairs the Code Enforcement Committee and serves on the Police, Fire, Parks and Recreation Committees and is Council liaison to the Community Advisory Board.  Sharon served for seven years on the Planning Board where her priority was always protecting the integrity of our neighborhoods. During her eight years on Council, Lee has served as Council President, Chair of Parks and Recreation and interim chair of the Finance Committee. She is also the former Chair of Department of Public Works and former Chair of the Education and Technology Committee.  

 

Posted: May 17th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Monmouth Democrats, Press Release | Tags: , , , , , , , | 16 Comments »

Menendez Continues to Poll in Very Dangerous, Corzine-like Territory

New Quinnipiac University poll shows him under the all-important 50 percent mark for incumbents
 
Middletown, May 16 A Quinnipiac University poll released today confirmed Menendez’s worst fear: he can’t poll above 50 percent. As an incumbent, that’s dangerous territory, that’s Jon Corzine territory.
 
“We’ll keep a close eye on this U.S. Senate race…Sen. Robert Menendez’s lead is far from solid… Menendez would feel a lot better if he could hit 50 percent on his approval rating…” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
 
It doesn’t help that Menendez has been recently mired in scandal. A top-tier donor of his was convicted last week for illegally donating nearly $100,000 to his campaign- of which he returned only $18,000. Where is the other $80,000, Senator?
 
Menendez is also being asked to step aside from the Senate Banking Committee’s investigation of the MF Global collapse. This request was made following an investigatory hearing when Menendez tried to direct the focus of the investigation away from his past political ally- former New Jersey Governor MF Global CEO- Jon Corzine.
 
And, in an interview on MSNBC yesterday discussing the JP Morgan loss, Menendez proved again that he is trying to protect the people close to him- while expecting everyone else to play by the rules. Menendez said, “What I care about is not an individual, I care about a system. Having system controls to ensure that no matter who is at the head of a company, this can’t happen.”
 

It is clear Menendez doesn’t care about holding ‘individuals’ accountable. See no evil. Hear no evil. Time and again, he has proved unwilling to put his oversight role on the Senate Banking Committee above his self-serving double standard. The people of New Jersey can no longer afford to play second fiddle to Menendez’s political allies.

Posted: May 16th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2012 U.S. Senate Race, Bob Menendez, Joe Kyrillos, Jon Corzine, Press Release, Quinnipiac poll | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Menendez’s Self-Serving Double Standard

Menendez calls for ‘system controls’ when JP Morgan makes a risky bet with its own money, but looks the other way when individuals and families lose their savings with MF Global

Middletown, May 15…When individuals and their families lost their savings with MF Global, Bob Menendez protected his ally Jon Corzine by steering the Senate Banking Committee’s investigation away from the CEO’s role in the collapse. Yet, when asked about JP Morgan’s loss resulting from a risky bet, Menendez called for ‘system controls.’  Menendez’s self-serving double standard of protecting his political allies- like Jon Corzine and the rest of the executive team- while calling for everyone else to play by the rules has got to stop.

“The collapse of MF Global and the risky bet placed by JP Morgan clearly demonstrate that regulators need to take a closer look at Wall Street practices and institute reforms to protect investors and the economy as a whole,” said Joe Kyrillos, who has been calling for Menendez to recuse himself from the banking committee’s investigation citing conflict of interest.

“People who took advantage of the lack of controls on Wall Street need to be held accountable. Menendez has again proved that he is not willing to put his personal ties aside to serve as an unbiased congressional investigator. The people of New Jersey deserve someone who is looking out for their best interests- not the best interests of past political cronies.”

Two Piscataway physicians, Drs. John and Alieta Eck, who provide charity medical care to the needy, had an investment account with MF Global that was completely wiped out as a result of the collapse. The Doctors Eck lost $200,000 and rightly demand answers from a thorough Senate investigation.

“The fact that Menendez failed to even mention the CEO Jon Corzine by name demonstrates that he is putting his personal relationship with the CEO ahead of the customers of MF global and the people of New Jersey. This requires a fair and comprehensive investigation, not a political whitewash,” said Dr. John Eck.

In an interview on MSNBC yesterday discussing the JP Morgan loss, Menendez said, “What I care about is not an individual, I care about a system. Having system controls to ensure that no matter who is at the head of a company, this can’t happen.”

It is clear Menendez doesn’t care about holding ‘individuals’ accountable. See no evil. Hear no evil. Time and again, he has proved unwilling to put his oversight role on the Senate Banking Committee above his self-serving double standard. The people of New Jersey can no longer afford to play second fiddle to Menendez’s political allies.

Posted: May 15th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2012 U.S. Senate Race, Bob Menendez, Joe Kyrillos, Jon Corzine, MF Global, Press Release | Tags: , , , , , | Comments Off on Menendez’s Self-Serving Double Standard

Operation Shoebox Recipient Delivers New Jersey Heroes Banner to First Lady Mary Pat Christie

New Jersey Marine Returns Banner with Photos of Military Members Stationed in Afghanistan

Trenton, NJ – A New Jersey Marine returning from Afghanistan today presented First Lady Mary Pat Christie with the New Jersey Heroes banner she and a group of volunteers originally signed and sent overseas as part of an Operation Shoebox care package in December 2011. Lance Corporal (LCpl) Zachary R. Sanders, of Somerville, returned the placard to Mrs. Christie with a photograph of his fellow soldiers with the banner. 

“Operation Shoebox is such a great cause, and the fact that Zach returned to New Jersey to deliver this banner from the soldiers in Afghanistan really demonstrates how much it means to our military personnel to know they are supported on the home front,” said Mrs. Christie. “We’re so proud of the courage Zach and his team members have displayed in serving our nation and we are thrilled that they have safely returned to their loves ones.”

Lance Corporal Sanders graduated from Somerville High School in 2010. He attended Boot Camp and graduated from Parris Island on November 11, 2010. After marine combat training and military police training, he spent five months at Camp Pendleton, California. He then volunteered to join a police advisor team that was attached to 2nd Battalion 4th Marines. On August 26, 2011, LCpl Sanders was sent to FOB Musa Qala in Helmand Province, Afghanistan to train and mentor the Afghan National Police as well as recruit local police from the surrounding areas. LCpl Sanders returned back to California on March 23, 2012 and will be joining the Law Enforcement Battalion on June 1, 2012.

“I joined the military because the older I got I began to realize all the freedoms we have in America and I knew we didn’t just get them by sitting around,” said LCpl Sanders. “I love my job. I loved working with the police in Afghanistan and teaching them some of our techniques and our knowledge of things. I was working with an outstanding team, PAT1 2nd Bat 4th Marines. There were 16 of us and I thank God everyone on the team made it back safe. It’s great to be back in America.” 

Since 2005, Operation Shoebox New Jersey has shipped more than 50,000 total packages to U.S. military members at posts in the Middle East, including Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan. The contents of all 50,000 boxes were generously donated by individuals and companies large and small in New Jersey. In December 2011, First Lady Mary Pat Christie named Rod Hirsh, founder of Operation Shoebox New Jersey as her ninth New Jersey Hero. 

At the time, Mrs. Christie joined Operation Shoebox volunteers in assembling care packages to be sent to military personnel in the Mideast. Several times a year, Shoebox volunteers ranging from veterans and church groups to corporations and school children give their time to sort donated supplies and then pack boxes to be shipped overseas. Items needed include lip balm, sun block, moist wipes, bars of soap, small bottles of shampoo, non-aerosol deodorant, powdered drink mixes, cereal/snacks, granola bars, individual packets of instant oatmeal, popcorn and hot chocolate, small cans of fruit with pop tops, gum, candy, athletic socks and batteries.

To learn more about Operation Shoebox New Jersey, visit www.opshoeboxnj.org.

New Jersey Heroes is an initiative of First Lady Mary Pat Christie that showcases the positive and unique ways people and organizations are impacting New Jersey and their communities. To nominate a hero, go to http://newjerseyheroes.org and follow the application instructions and submit the person you believe is a true New Jersey Hero.

Posted: May 15th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Mary Pat Chrisite, Operation Shoebox, Press Release | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Operation Shoebox Recipient Delivers New Jersey Heroes Banner to First Lady Mary Pat Christie

Mayor Anna Little: A Debt Record Worse Than Obama’s

Asbury Park, NJ –  Former Highlands Mayor and current congressional candidate in New Jersey’s District 6, Anna Little, touts herself as being a fiscal conservative, as someone who looks out for the taxpayers. However, a brief examination of her record as Highlands mayor (2008 – 2010) tells a much different story.

A simple comparison between the Borough of Highlands 2007 Annual Debt Statement (Highlands’ debt before Mayor Little came to office) and the Borough of Highlands 2010 Annual Debt Statement, reveals that Mayor Anna Little increased the Highlands’ debt by 33%.

An even more disturbing fact is that U.S. debt grew at a lower percentage in the first three years of the Obama Administration than in the Highlands under Mayor Little.

In the first three years of Obama’s term, the U.S. National Debt ballooned by 25%. Highlands’ debt under Mayor Anna Little exploded by 33% in the same time period.

“When our nation has a spending and debt problem, we can’t afford representatives that have a record of debt and reckless spending, they will only make things worse. We need to send people to Washington that are serious about cutting the debt and committed to drastically reducing deficit spending.” said Ernesto Cullari, Republican Congressional Candidate for the 6th District.

By the time Mayor Little’s term had expired, she left the 5,005 Highlands’ residents with a total debt of $6,280,844. That is a debt burden of $1,254.91 per resident. 

Facts are stubborn things…and they don’t lie. Ernesto Cullari is calling on Mayor Anna Little to defend her record of grossly inflating taxes and fees on Highlands’ residents and the debt explosion in Highlands on her watch.  
 
If Mayor Anna Little couldn’t control debt in a town with a population of just 5,000…how can we trust her to hold the line in Congress?
 
The answer, unfortunately, is that we can not.
 
Press release from Cullari for Congress
Posted: May 14th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2012 Congressional Races, Anna Little, Ernesto Cullari, Press Release | Tags: , , | 31 Comments »

Victim of MF Global Fraud Joins Senator Kyrillos in Asking Menendez to Recuse Himself from MF Global Investigation

Family practitioners John and Alieta Eck lost $200,000 in non-investment MF Global account

Middletown, April 4… Today, Piscataway family practitioners, Drs. John and Alieta Eck, joined Senator Kyrillos in asking U.S. Senator Bob Menendez to recuse himself from the Senate Banking Committee’s investigation into the collapse of MF Global. The Doctors Eck had $200,000 in a non-investment account that was completely wiped out as a result of the company’s collapse. They have not received any repayment of their money from MF Global.

“My wife and I were devastated when money that we though was safe was taken from us with no explanation. We were counting on this money for our retirement, and now we many never see it again. We stand firmly with Senator Kyrillos in asking Bob Menendez to step aside from the MF Global investigation proceedings. The fact that Menendez failed to even mention the CEO Jon Corzine by name demonstrates that he is putting his personal relationship with Corzine ahead of the investors of MF global and the people of New Jersey. This requires a fair and comprehensive investigation, not a political whitewash.”

Yesterday, Senator Kyrillos, called on Menendez to recuse himself from the Senate Banking Committee investigation, citing a conflict of interest.

“Recent press accounts and Menendez’s own actions during investigatory hearings are making it seem as if he is trying to protect the man who appointed him to the Senate. As a Senate committee with direct oversight of the MF Global regulators, it is Menendez’s duty to put his personal ties aside, and get to the bottom of this. That is why he needs to recuse himself from further proceedings immediately.”

Last week during the hearing, Senator Menendez made it a point to steer the Committee’s investigation away from Corzine’s role in MF Global collapse: See no evil. Hear no evil.

Previously, the Star Ledger’s Auditor shed light on the Menendez duck: “Menendez [is] not keen to question Jon Corzine on MF Global scandal on Senate Banking committee.”

The column continued, saying Menendez doesn’t want to be “questioning the man who handed him his current job.”

WATCH VIDEO
: Menendez makes it a point to steer the Committee’s investigation away from Corzine’s role in MF Global collapse: See no evil. Hear no evil.

Posted: May 4th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2012 U.S. Senate Race, Bob Menendez, Joe Kyrillos, Jon Corzine, MF Global, Press Release | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Menendez on Corzine’s role in MF Global: See no evil. Hear no evil

Watch the Senate Banking Committee Hearing on MF Global Collapse. 

Middletown, May 2…The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing last week to investigate the collapse of MF Global Holdings, a major financial commodities brokerage firm. 

The collapse of MF Global, also under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the FBI, federal prosecutors, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, resulted in the loss of $1.6 billion of investors’ funds.
 
In his questioning, Banking Committee member U.S. Senator Bob Menendez asked whether there were “structural problems” that led to the collapse.  Terrance Duffy, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Executive Chairman responded, “There is nothing structurally wrong.”
 
“MF Global was poorly capitalized, had liquidity problems, was highly leveraged; was that the harbinger of its doom?”  Menendez continued during his questioning. 
 
Menendez avoided mentioning former CEO of MF Global Jon Corzine, who may face potential legal liability in the wake of the collapse and who appointed Menendez to his current position in the United States Senate.
 
See no evil. Hear no evil. Menendez whiffs on asking the tough questions and the obvious role his mentor Jon Corzine played in MF Global’s collapse.
 
Previously, the Star Ledger’s auditor shed light on the Menendez duck: “Menendez [is] not keen to question Jon Corzine on MF Global scandal on Senate Banking committee.”  
 
The column continued, saying Menendez doesn’t want to be “questioning the man who handed him his current job.”
 
Click here to watch the full webcast of the hearing…
Posted: May 2nd, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2012 U.S. Senate Race, Bob Menendez, Joe Kyrillos, Press Release | Tags: , , | Comments Off on Menendez on Corzine’s role in MF Global: See no evil. Hear no evil

Kyrillos: “Cherry Hill Teacher Bullies Show Need for Tenure Reform”

Middletown— State Senator Joe Kyrillos (R- Monmouth), prime sponsor of the “School Children First Act” which reforms New Jersey’s tenure system for educators, issued the following statement regarding reports that several Cherry Hill elementary school teachers and aides were recorded bullying a student with autism:

While at least one teacher’s aide was dismissed by school officials, the father of this student alleges, and news accounts confirm, that other teachers and aides involved were simply reassigned.

If true, the incident is an indictment of our current system of tenure protections in public education.

There is no instance in which it is acceptable for a teacher to bully or abuse a student in that manner, nor when a witness to such behavior should not report their colleagues’ misconduct to school administrators.

Nobody directly involved with the abuse of Akian Chaifetz, or who witnessed the abuse without reporting it, should be employed in a classroom. We need to reform protections to ensure that these individuals can be swiftly terminated, rather than just shuffled around.

Posted: April 26th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Education, Joe Kyrillos, Press Release, Tenure Reform | Tags: , , , , , | 21 Comments »